Polar positioning device for rock drills



A. sTROMNEs POLAR POSITIONING DEVICE FOR ROCK DRILLS Feb. 28, 1967 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 8, 1964 INVENTOR. A'XEL STR'nms;

M NL

m q v Feb. 28, 1967 A. STROMNES 3,306,374

POLAR POSITIONING DEVICE FOR ROCK DRILLS Filed Dec. 8, 1964 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR. Xi L 'SKRSM we 5 MMW'X A. STROMNES 3,306,374

POLAR POSITIONING DEVICE FOR ROCK DRILLS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 R @w i A- wwvmiwv W? L 63 T 1 Feb. 28, 1967 Filed Dec. 8, 1964 m & .m\ w M? M w w k1 9 5% E $10. RM. M4 mi A) m\ Db \Hv H mm G W NM m v NW Av d em Q WW w$T E Q Q 1 it sh C a n //C A 1 w mm in QV QQ Feb. 28, 1967 A. STRGMNES3,306,374

POLAR POSITIONING DEVICE FOR ROCK DRILLS Filed Dec. 8, 1964 4Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. AJ 'QL 11 n6 5 4-4 42 BY P79- 6 a United StatesPatent Ofifice 3,306,374 POLAR POSITIONING DEVICE FOR ROCK DRILLS AxelSn'timnes, Tunabro, Sweden, assignor to Atlas Copco Aktiebolag, Nacka,Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Filed Dec. 8, 1964, Ser. No. 416,783

Claims priority, application Sweden, Apr. 23, 1964,

5,031/ 64 11 Claims. (Cl. 173-43) The present invention relatesgenerally to mechanized positioning devices for rock drills and morespecifically to a positioning device in which a feed shell carryingreciprocaibly a rock drill thereon can be positioned in a fullymechanized way to alternative substantially parallel positions accordingto a polar coordinate system. This is accomplished by the aid of a linksystem linking the shell to a base frame which link system uponactuation by suitable power means translates the feed shell to anydesired position between a position adjacent said base frame and aposition remote therefrom whereby the radius vector in the coordinatesystem is defined. By also journalling the base frame pivotally andangularly adjustably by power about an axis disposed in a common .planewith the feed shell and the link system, the polar angle in thecoordinate system can within certain limits be selected .as desired.

It is the main object of the present invention to provide a highlyeffective and lightweight polar positioning device of the abovementionedtype by applying a link system of a pair of link frames disposedcrosswise and pivoted in scissors manner about a central pivot. Afurther object of the invention is to provide a polar positioning devicewith crosswise disposed link frames which can be lowered or contractedto bring the feed shell closely adjacent to 'the base frame carrying thelink system thereby to minimize the obstructed non-drilling areacentrally within the working space of the device.

For the above and other purposes there is according to the inventionprovided a polar positioning device for rock drills for positioning arock drill to a plurality of alternative drilling positions according toa polar coordinate system, said positioning device comprising asubstructure having coaxial journals thereon spaced in the longitudinaldirection thereof, a base frame pivotally mounted on said journals aboutan axis extending longitudinally of said substructure and defining thepolar axis of said coordinate system, an elongated feed shell forlongitudinally movably carrying a rock drill thereon having feedingmeans thereon for feeding and retracting said rock drill along said feedshell, a link system linked between said feed shell and said base framefor translatory motion of said feed shell transversely thereto and tosaid base frame in a plane including said axis, said link systemincluding a pair of elongated link frames in said plane disposedcrosswise and pivoted to one an other in scissors manner about a centralpivot, first power means on said substructure and operatively connectedto said base frame for defining the angular position of said link framesand feed shell about said axis, and second power means operativelyconnected to said link frames for moving said link frames andtranslating said feed shell thereon to the desired position in saidplane relative to said base frame thereby to define the radius vector insaid polar coordinate system.

The above and other objects of the invention will become obvious fromthe following description and from the accompanying drawings in whichone embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. Itshould be understood that this embodiment is only illustrative of theinvention and that various modifications inside of the channels 21.

of the embodiment described thereinafter may be made within the scope ofthe claims.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 shows in a perspective view a duplex arrangementof a pair of positioning devices according to the present invention.FIG. 2 shows a side elevational view of the elevated positioning devicein FIG. 1. In this view one side wall of the base frame has been removedin order to show underlying parts. FIG. 3 is a side elevational viewcorresponding to FIG. 2 but showing the positioning device in fullylowered position. FIG. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional viewthrough the duplex arrangement on the line 4-4 in FIG. 3 and with thetwo rock drills and their feeding devices removed from the feed shells.FIG. 5 is a fragmental top plan view on the line 55 in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 isa sectional view substantially on the line 6-6 in FIG. 2.

In the drawings 15 designates a substructure such as a welded framewhich can be movably supported on wheel axles and wheels, not shown, orcan be supported in other ways and on which there is supported a dualityof positioning devices according to the present invention. To this endthe frame 15 carries on each side thereof upstanding brackets on whichtwo longitudinally spaced coaxial front journals 16, 16 and a rearjournal 17 coaxial therewith are supported. In the journals 16', 16", 17are pivotally supported two base frames 18 on which a forwardlyprojecting rod 19 is journalled in the journals 16, 16" and a rear pivot20 projects into the rear journal 17. Between the journals 16" and 17each base frame 18 is elongated and rectangular and has the parallellong sides thereof formed by channel bars 21 facing each other. Anglebrackets 22 each carrying a pair of slide blocks 23 on their one limbare reciprocable by means of the slide blocks 23 along and The otherdownwardly pointing limbs 14 of the angle brackets 22 are interconnectedby means of a cross plate 24, FIG. 5, while the outer ends of thehorizontal limbs are connected to a transverse pivot 25. A pressurefluid actuated double acting power cylinder 26 is pivoted centrally onthe pivot 25 and extends to the rear and is connected at the piston rodend thereof to a pivot 27 fixed to the rear end d the base frame 18. Byextension or contraction of the power cylinder 26 the angle brackets 22together with the pivot 25 obviously can be reciprocated along the baseframe 18.

In each of the two positioning devices carried by the substructure 15two elongated link frames 28 and 29 each formed by a pair of spacedsuitably interconnected elongated frame members, are pivoted to anotherin scissors manner about a central pivot 30, the intermediate portion ofthe forwardly pointing link frame 29 pivoting about the central pivot 30within the intermediate portion of the link frame 28. The lower forwardend of each link frame 28 is pivotally journalled in a boss on the outerend of the rod 19 of the base frames 18 by means of a pivot 31 which iscarried in the boss pivotally abut immovably in the longitudinaldirection of each base frame 18. The lower rear end of each link frame29 is connected to the above described movable pivot 25.

On the outer ends of thel ink frames 28, 29 are carried pivots 32, 33slidably cooperating respectively with forward and rearward guideways34', 34" at the opposite ends of a feed shell 35. The guideways 34', 34"preferably consist of parallel angle irons welded to the opposite endsof the feed shell 35 to form longitudinal rails for the pivots 32, 33. Apressure fluid actuated double acting power cylinder 37 is connected toa pivot 36 fixed to the underside of the feed shell 35, the piston rodend Patented Feb. 28, 1967' of the power cylinder 37 being connected toa pivot 38 affixed to the outer end portion of the link frame 29. Thepower cylinder 37 keeps the feed shell longitudinally fixed relative tothe pivot 33 depending on its state of extension and by extending orcontracting of the power cylinder 37 the feed shell 35 obviously can bedisplaced longitudinally along the pivots 32, 33 and can be movedtowards or against the rock face to be drilled. A rock drill 39 and adrill steel 40 are carried reciprocably by the feed shell 35 which inwellknown manner also carries drill steel centralizers 60, 61 and afeeding device which can be a double-acting feed cylinder 41 movablealong the feed bar, for example as disclosed in the US. Patent 3,149,540or may be made in other Ways. The elements of the feed shell and rockdrill are only shown diagrammatically since they and their arrangementare per se well known to those skilled in the art and do not requiredetailed description.

When the movable pivot 25 on each base frame 18 is reciprocated by meansof the power cylinder 26, the link frames 28, 29, since they are pivotedto one another about the central pivot 30, perform a scissors likemovement which elevates or lowers the pivots 32, 33 and thereby the feedshell 35 with the rock drill 39 thereon so that a suitable elevation fordrilling can be adjusted.

In the fully lowered position of FIG. 3 of the link frames 28, 29 thepower cylinder 26 is near its dead center position with respect to thecentral pivot 30 and when the pivot 25 starts moving the link frame 29is subjected to large forces. For purposes of decreasing these forcesspecial power means are arranged to impart an initial turning impetus tothe link frames 28, 29 to overcome the dead center position. To this enda power cylinder 42 is connected at the one actuating end thereof to atransverse pivot 43, which is fixed to the downwardly pointing limbs 14of the angle brackets 22. The other actuating end or piston rod end ofthe power cylinder 42 is connected to a pivot 44 on a bell crank lever45 which is pivoted about the movable pivot 25 and carries cross plates46 which in the inactive position of the power cylinder 42, FIG. 3, areresting on the link frame 29 immediately below the link frame 28. Whenthe link frames 28, 29 are to be lifted from their fully loweredposition in FIG. 3, the power cylinders 26 and 42 are actuatedsimultaneously, at which instant the power cylinder 42 turns the bellcrank lever 45 upwardly so that the cross plates 46 cause separation ofthe link frames 28, 29 and initial turning thereof, whereupon theelevation of the link frames 28, 29 is completed solely by means of thepower cylinder 26.

The base frames 18 are turnable and angularly adjustable about theirlongitudinal axis by means of pressure fluid actuated power cylinderarrangement which makes possible turning of the base frames 18 through awide angle while overcoming dead center positions of the actuatingcylinders. The arrangement consists of a pair of power cylinders 47, 48cooperating with each base frame 18. One end of the cylinders 47, 48 ispivoted on a longitudinal pivot 49 affixed to the substructure or frame15. The piston rod ends of the power cylinders 47, 48 are connectedrespectively to pivots 50, 58 on cranks 51, 59, respectively, which arekeyed to the forward rod 19 on suitable angular distances from oneanother. When one of the power cylinders, for example 47, in the righthand positioning device in FIG. 4 is near its dead center position, theother, 48, obviously can continue the angular adjustment of the baseframe 18 through a wide angle.

The forwardly pointing link frame 29 preferably is to such an extentlonger than the rearwardly directed link frame 28 that an elevation ofthe forward end of the feed bar 35 suitable for drilling the roof holesis received when the link frames 28, 29 are elevated from their fullylowered position in FIG. 3 to the elevated position in FIG. 2.

For purposes of adjusting the roof hole angle the pivot 33 is adjustableas to its height with respect to the link frame 29. To this end thepivot 33 is carried on a bracket 52, FIGS. 1 and 6, which by means of apivot 53 is pivotally connected to the link frame 29. By means of a bolt54 which is inserted in a hole in the bracket 52 as well as through oneof a number of suitable alternative holes 55 in the link frame 29, theangle between the bracket 52 and the link frame 29 can be set wherebythe height of the pivot 33 can be changed relative to the base frame 18.

The pressure fluid for operation of the different power cylinders aswell as of the drill is supplied from suitable sources, not illustrated,and the various hoses for conveying pressure fluid have been omittedsince they would make the drawings rather congested and since the provision of such hoses or conduits is obvious to those skilled in the art.

In operation and assuming the positioning devices to occupy the positiondepicted in FIG. 3, the two power cylinders 26, 42 are pressurized toelevate the link frames 28, 29 and the feed shell 35 thereon to thedesired height.- During elevation the feed shell 35 is kept fast to linkframe 29 by the power cylinder 37 and the pivot 33 remains substantiallyimmovable longitudinally in the guideways 34' relative to the feed shell35 while the rear pivot 32 slides in the guideways 34". Due hereto andto the selected proportions of the link frames 28, 29 the longitudinalposition of the feed shell 35 during elevation or lowering remainssubstantially unchanged relative to the base frame 18 and the feed shell35 also remains generally parallel thereto except for the slight angularelevation used for drilling of the roof holes. With the desiredelevation set, the power cylinders 47 and 48 are pressurized to turn thefeed shell 35 to the desired angle relative to the longitudinal axis ofthe base frame 18.- As shown in FIG. 4 the two positioning devices areset to cover adjacent working areas and they enable the holes to beplaced according to two polar coordinate systems having their polar axesin the turning axes of the base frames 18. In the systems the radiusvector obviously will be defined by the extent of elevation of the feedshells 35 relative to the base frames.

With the shells 35 in the desired position the power cylinders 37 areactuated to move the feed shells 35 to the correct hole startingposition adjacent the rock face, whereupon drilling may commence inconventional way.

What I claim is:

1. A polar positioning device for rock drills for positioning a rockdrill to a plurality of alternative drilling positions according to apolar coordinate system, said positioning device comprising asubstructure having coaxial journals thereon spaced in the longitudinaldirection thereof, a base frame pivotally mounted on said journals aboutan axis extending longitudinally of said substructure and defining thepolar axis of said coordinate system, an elongated feed shell forlongitudinally movably carrying a rock drill thereon having feedingmeans thereon for feeding and retracting said rock drill along said feedshell, a link system linked between said feed shell and said base framefor translatory motion of said feed shell transversely thereto and tosaid base frame in a plane including said axis, said link systemincluding a pair of elongated link frames in said plane disposedcrosswise and pivoted to one another in scissors manner about a centralpivot, first power means on said substructure and operatively connectedto said base frame for defining the angular position of said link framesand feed shell about said axis, and second power means operativelyconnected to said link frames for moving said link frames andtranslating said feed shell thereon to the desired position in saidplane relative to said base frame thereby to define the radius vector insaid polar coordinate system.

2. A positioning device according to claim 1 in which there are providedpivots on the ends of the link frames opposite to the base frame, andguideways on said feed shell cooperating with said pivots for slidablycarrying said feed shell in the longitudinal direction thereof on saidlink frames.

3. A positioning device according to claim 2 in which there are providedseparate power means between one of said link frames and said feed shellfor moving said feed shell longitudinally on said link frames.

4. A positioning device according to claim 1 in which the portion of oneof said link frames adjacent said central pivot is disposed pivotallywithin the corresponding portion of said other link frame.

5. A polar positioning device for rock drills for positioning a rockdrill to a plurality of alternative drilling positions according to apolar coordinate system, said positioning device comprising asubstructure having coaxial journals thereon spaced in the longitudinaldirection thereof, a base frame pivotally mounted on said journals aboutan axis extending longitudinally of said substructure and defining thepolar axis of said coordinate system, an elongated feed shell forlongitudinally movably carrying a rock drill thereon having feedingmeans thereon for feeding and retracting said rock drill along said feedshell, a link system linked between said feed shell and said base framefor translatory motion of said feed shell transversely thereto and tosaid base frame in a plane including said axis, said link systemincluding a pair of elongated link frames in said plane disposedcrosswise and pivoted to one another in scissors manner about a centralpivot, power means on said substructure and operatively connected tosaid base frame for defining the angular position of said link framesand feed shell about said axis, first pivot means on said base frame forpivotally but longitudinally immovably connecting one of the ends ofsaid link frames remote from said feed shell to said base frame, secondpivot means on said base frame for pivotally connecting the other end ofsaid link frames remote from said feed shell to said base frame, meanson said base frame providing longitudinal movability of said secondpivot means along said base frame, and power means connected betweensaid base frame and said second pivot means for moving said second pivotmeans longitudinally of said base frame thereby to elevate and to lowersaid link frames and said feed shell thereon to the desired positionrelating to said base frame.

6. A polar positioning device for rock drills for positioning a rockdrill to a plurality of alternative drilling positions according to apolar coordinate system, said positioning device comprising asubstructure having coaxial journals thereon spaced in the longitudinaldirection thereof, a base frame pivotally mounted on said journals aboutan axis extending longitudinally of said substructure and defining thepolar axis of said coordinate system, an elongated feed shell forlongitudinally movably carrying a rock drill thereon having feedingmeans thereon for feeding and retracting said rock drill along said feedshell, a link system linked between said feed shell and said base framefor translatory motion of said feed shell transversely thereto and tosaid base frame in a plane including said axis and substantially withoutchange in the relative longitudinal position between said shell andframe, said link system including a pair of elongated link framesdisposed crosswise and pivoted to one another in scissors manner about acentral pivot, said link frames carrying pivots at the opposed eridportions thereof, longitudinal guideways on said shell and said baseframe for slidably receiving one of said pivots on different link framesrespectively, means for keeping the other pivots pivotally butlongitudinally fixedly journalled on respectively said shell and saidbase frame, power means on said substructure and operatively connectedto said base frame for defining the angular position of said feed shellabout said axis, and a pressure fluid actuated power cylinder connectedbetween said base frame and the movable pivot on said base frame formoving said movable pivot longitudinally of said base frame thereby toelevate or to lower the link frames and the feed shell thereon to thedesired position relative to said base frame.

7. A positioning device according to claim 6 in which a separatepressure fluid actuated power cylinder is provided on said base frame,bracket means connecting one actuating end of said separate powercylinder to said movable pivot for movement in unison therewith, andmeans connected to the other actuating end of said power cylinder forimparting an initial elevating impetus to said link frames in thelowered position thereof.

8. A positioning device according to claim 7 in which said impartingmeans is a bell crank lever pivotally mounted on said movable pivot ofsaid base frame and having its arm opposite to said separate powercylinder engageable with the link frame carrying said longitudinallyfixed pivot of said base frame.

9. A positioning device as set forth in claim 6 in which there areprovided separate longitudinal guideways on said feed shell cooperatingwith the longitudinally fixed pivot thereof for permitting slidingmotion of said feed shell relative thereto, and an additional pressurefluid actuated power cylinder connected between said feed shell and thelink frame carrying said longitudinally fixed pivot for adjusting thefixed position thereof relative to said feed shell.

10. A positioning device according to claim 6 in which said link framecarrying the longitudinally fixed pivot of said feed shell is providedwit-h means for adjusting the distance of said fixed pivot to said baseframe independently of the adjustability of said link frames.

11. A positioning device according to claim 6 in which the link framecarrying said longitudinally fixed pivot of said shell projectsforwardly with respect to the drilling direction and is to such anextent longer than the rearwardly pointing link frame that an elevationof the front end of the feed shell is received suitable for drilling ofthe roof holes when said feed shell is near its greatest distance fromsaid base frame.

References Cited. by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,138,715 5/1915Young 74-521 2,168,905 8/1939 Lear 17342 2,624,535 1/ 1953 Bollhoefer24823 2,703,222 3/ 1955 Feucht 17343 2,731,235 1/1956 Dellner 173-433,055,648 9/1962 Lawrence et al 299-20 FRED C. MATTERN, JR., PrimaryExaminer. L. P. KESSLER, Assistant Examiner.

1. A POLAR POSITIONING DEVICE FOR ROCK DRILLS FOR POSITIONING A ROCKDRILL TO A PLURALITY OF ALTERNATIVE DRILLING POSITIONS ACCORDING TO APOLAR COORDINATE SYSTEM, SAID POSITIONING DEVICE COMPRISING ASUBSTRUCTURE HAVING COAXIAL JOURNALS THEREON SPACED IN THE LONGITUDINALDIRECTION THEREOF, A BASE FRAME PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID JOURNALS ABOUTAN AXIS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID SUBSTRUCTURE AND DEFINING THEPOLAR AXIS OF SAID COORDINATE SYSTEM, AN ELONGATED FEED SHELL FORLONGITUDINALLY MOVABLY CARRYING A ROCK DRILL THEREON HAVING FEEDINGMEANS THEREON FOR FEEDING AND RETRACTING SAID ROCK DRILL ALONG SAID FEEDSHELL, A LINK SYSTEM LINKED BETWEEN SAID FEED SHELL AND SAID BASE FRAMEFOR TRANSLATORY MOTION OF SAID FEED SHELL TRANSVERSELY THERETO AND TOSAID BASE FRAME IN A PLANE INCLUDING SAID AXIS SAID LINK SYSTEMINCLUDING A PAIR OF ELONGATED LINK FRAMES IN SAID PLANE DISPOSEDCROSSWISE AND PIVOTED TO ONE ANOTHER IN SCISSORS MANNER ABOUT A CENTRALPIVOT, FIRST POWER MEANS ON SAID SUBSTRUCTURE AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTEDTO SAID BASE FRAME FOR DEFINING THE ANGULAR POSITION OF SAID LINK FRAMESAND FEED SHELL ABOUT SAID AXIS, AND SECOND POWER MEANS OPERATIVELYCONNECTED TO SAID LINK FRAMES FOR MOVING SAID LINK FRAMES ANDTRANSLATING SAID FEED SHELL THEREON TO THE DESIRED POSITION IN SAIDPLANE RELATIVE TO SAID BASE FRAME THEREBY TO DEFINE THE RADIUS VECTOR INSAID POLAR COORDINATE SYSTEM.